The Ewood Park side yesterday turned down a £12million bid from Manchester City for McCarthy's strike partner Roque Santa Cruz.

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But Sunderland are poised to test Rovers' resolve over McCarthy with a bid which would smash the Wearsiders' £9million transfer record – set when they brought in Craig Gordon last summer.

Things are understood to be moving fast and it is even possible, if unlikely, that a deal could be brokered before today's 5pm deadline for the player to be registered in time to play against Liverpool.

But if the move does not happen today then Sunderland will continue their pursuit over the weekend and into next week.

After being linked with a host of strikers this summer, most of which have been red herrings, Sunderland's interest has hardened on McCarthy.

Darren Bent of Spurs was a major target for Sunderland, but with the Wearsiders unable to prise him out of White Hart Lane, McCarthy has now become the Black Cats' chief target.

The 31-year-old South African international has been a star for Blackburn in his two seasons at the club, scoring 35 goals in 78 appearances.

But last season McCarthy – a Champions League winner with Porto – found his opportunities somewhat limited when Cruz burst on the scene,
And with Rovers signalling they will not part with the Paraguayan at any cost, it is possible that manager Paul Ince will relent if an acceptable bid for McCarthy is received.

The new Rovers manager wants to keep together as much of the squad he inherited from Mark Hughes as possible.

Cruz is an "untouchable" as far as Ince is concerned, but he has reluctantly accepted that one or two might leave. Rovers' star midfielder David Bentley joined Spurs in a multi-million pound deal.

And Ince might just feel the time is right to let McCarthy go, if the pressure is on and the player wants to leave.

Excellent sources both in the North West and around the player himself are aware of Sunderland's interest in the striker.

And Rovers are about to be asked to make a firm decision on the future of a player who looks certain to leave Ewood Park in the current transfer window.